ICC confirms Johan Botha can resume bowling in international cricket

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has written to Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirming off-spinner Johan Botha can resume bowling at international level.

That permission is granted on the basis he uses an action consistent to that used in the latest independent analysis of his action, undertaken earlier this month.

After forwarding the report on Johan Botha's bowling action to CSA, ICC General Manager - Cricket, David Richardson, re-stated the ICC's policy in relation to suspected illegal bowling actions.

"The findings of the report mean that Johan can resume bowling in international cricket," said Mr Richardson. "However, everyone needs to be aware that no bowler is ever 'cleared' as they could simply revert to bad habits.

"All bowlers are subject to further reporting if the match officials are of the view that they have concerns about whether a delivery or deliveries conform to the Laws of Cricket when observed with the naked eye."

Johan Botha was suspended from bowling in international cricket in February 2006 following an independent assessment of his action after he was reported for having a suspect bowling action during the third Test against Australia in Sydney the previous month.

Johan embarked on remedial work under the supervision of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (now Cricket South Africa) and applied for an independent reassessment of his bowling action in August 2006.

The reassessment was carried out at the University of Chichester in the UK by Dr Paul Hurrion, but in his report Dr Hurrion concluded that the action still exceeded ICC tolerance levels. As a result the suspension from bowling in international cricket remained in place.

After further remedial work Johan submitted to another reassessment earlier this month at the University of Western Australia under the supervision of Professor Bruce Elliott.

Professor Elliott's report concluded that improvements had been made to the bowling action for both the off-break and 'doosra' and Johan was capable of bowling within ICC levels of tolerance.

Therefore, in line with clause G4 of the regulations, the suspension on Johan is lifted and he can resume bowling in international cricket forthwith.

CSA were, however, reminded that should he bowl with an action that employs any delivery that is considered by the match officials, using the naked eye, to be above the levels of tolerance, there is a possibility he will be reported again and may even be called.

If such a situation arose, Johan would be expected to submit to a further independent analysis of his action.

Should that independent analysis find his action to be outside the ICC's prescribed 15 degree level of tolerance he would again be suspended. If that suspension occurred within two years of the starting date of the previous suspension (7 February 2006), he would be automatically banned from bowling in international cricket for a minimum of one year.